Bitter Autumn Evening

There are no known descriptions or photographs of this painting, but the title indicates that it depicts the parsonage buildings at Ålhus in Jølster on a bitter autumn day.

The painting “Bitter Autumn Evening” was displayed at the memorial exhibitions in Bergen and Kristiania (Oslo) in 1928, having been loaned by Ole Johannessen (1858–1948) of Bergen. Johannessen was married to Hanna Lodtz (1862–1948), who was a cousin of Astrup’s mother, Petra Constanse Astrup, née Lodtz (1860–1930). The exhibition catalogue states that the painting measures 81 x 77 cm and is signed “N. Astrup”.

In 1920, Astrup writes that he gave the study to Hanna and Ole Johannessen, but it is not known when this transfer took place. The history of the painting after 1928 is also unknown.

In Astrup’s list of works from 1927, the study is listed alongside “Bitter Autumn Evening at the Old and New Parsonage at Jølster” (U021). The painting was displayed at Astrup’s exhibition in 1908, but it was lost in the Bergen city fire in 1916.